Hand loom



Oct. 29, 1957 E. NADEAU 2,811,175

v HAND LOOM Filed Jan. 28, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ELPFIEG DEAU A OR E E. NADEAU HAND LOOM Oct. 29, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 28, 1954 INVENTOR. ELPHEGE NADEAU ATTORN EY E. NADEAU Oct. 29, 1957 HAND LOOM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 28, 1954 INVENTOR.

ELPHEGE NADEAU ATTORNEY Oct. 29, 1957 E. NADEAU 2,81

HAND LOOM Filed Jan. 28, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. l 62 Q75"; E 4 1/ GoOJ g. I. E -/65" OWE;

LPHEGE NADEAU 7 M ATTORNEY HAND LOOM Elpliege Nadeau, Blackstone, Mass. Application January 23, 1954, Serial No. 406,757

2 Claims. Cl. 139-29 My present invention relates to looms, and more particularly to a novel construction of a hand loom.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a hand loom of simple construction, but having all the mechanism necessary for weaving.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hand loom construction made of light metaltubing providing a strong structure of a symmetrical design.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a construction in which the tubing frame also acts as bearings for the cloth roll and warp beam.

Another object of the present invention relates to the improved type of friction let-oil mechanism designed for use with the hand loom.

Further features of my invention relate to the structure of the individual parts thereof both as to cheapness of cost and ease of manipulation, the device only being provided with the bare necessities of weaving so as to achieve the ready hand manipulation thereof and to eliminate insofar as possible extra nonessential mechanisms.

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a de scription of the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view taken from the front of a hand-loom constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the loom shown in Fig. 1, taken from the rear.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the loom shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

. Fig. 4is a plan view of the rear portion of the loom illustrating the warp beam in elevation and the rear frame legs and details of the friction let-off in section.

' Fig. 5 is an end view of one end of the rear end of the loom.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the opposite end of therear end of the loom.

Figs. 7-10 are diagrammatic detailed front views of the center portion of the loom and selector and locking mechanisms illustrating how the intermittent operation of the selector mechanism is efiective to raise and lock one harness and release it on reverse rotation thereof, Fig. 7 being a view showing the harness in lowered position, Fig. 8 being a view showing the selector intermittently advanced to raise the harness and retain it in locked raised position, Fig. 9 being a view after the re verse rotation of the selector to unlatch the locking means, permitting dropping of the harness, and Fig. 10 being a view generally similar to Fig. 7, showing the harness again dropped and ready for another rotation of the selector mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a detail side view of the selector cylinder.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 1212 of Fig. 1, illustrating the structure of the improved reed holder preferably used by me.

Patented Oct. 29, .1957

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line 13-13 of Fig. 1 illustrating the structure of the improved harness I preferably employ.

Fig. 14 is a detail perspective view of the side of the selector locking arm showing the locking plate.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference generally indicate like parts throughout, 20 indicates a hand-loom constructed in accordance with my invention. As stated, said hand-loom operates on a new principle, namely, that of forming each successive shed by raising different selective groups of harnesses and preferably locking them in raised position for the passage of the shuttle between the successive sheds and unlocking the selector mechanism after each passage of the shuttle through the then made shed to permit all harnesses to drop to their lower position, it being obvious that it is only necessary to apply energy to achieve the work of raising the harnesses and for no other purpose, the harnesses dropping of their own gravity or with the help of springs when unlatched to a position such that the selector mechanism may again start to raise selected harnesses for the formation of the next successive usually different shed. The hand-loom 20 broadly comprises the frame 22 having the usual warp beam 24 mounted in the rear of said frame, having the friction let-off 26, a cloth roll 28 mounted in front of said frame 22, a take-up mechanism 3%) for said cloth roll, a horizontally reciprocal reed 32, a set 34 of at least three harnesses 36 (four as shown), each vertically independently reciprocably mounted, having heddles 33 having the usual eyes 40 for receiving selected warp threads passing from said warp beam 24 to said cloth roll 2ttwhereby on selective raising of predetermined harnesses such as the harnesses 36 shown in 'Fig. 2, a shed 42 is formed for passage of a shuttle 44 therethrough to lay a filling yarn 46 in each shed which may be beat up by the usual reed 32 into the edge 43 of the fabric 50 rolled on the cloth roll 28.

To control the raising of the desired harnesses 36, I provide an intermittently movable head motion or selector head 52 operable to selectively successively raise different selected harnesses only to form different successive sheds and I provide means, including the locking mechanism 54, for limiting the movement of the head motion after it has raised selected harnesses to form each respective successive shed and selectively locking said harnesses in raised position for passage of the shuttle 44 through each successive shed.

While any suitable means may be provided to unlock the locking mechanism, I provide a combination selector head and locking mechanism operable on reverse movement of the head motion 52 to release said locking mechanism to permit all harnesses to drop to a lower non-shed forming position.

As stated hitherto, certain features of my invention relate to the structure of the frame itself, wherein all of the parts thereof comprise tubular light metal bars. While I preferably employ bars constructed of light metal such as aluminum or magnesium, due to the light tubular structure, almost any type of metal such as chromium, copper, steel, iron, etc, may be employed.

My improved frame comprises the tubular light metal side bars 56 having legs 58 depending from each end thereof. In the embodimentshown, I employ a base 60 secured to said legs, preferably at each corner thereof, and I also preferably employ the spaced tubular handle forming light metal cross-bars 62 also having the lower ends thereof regidly secured to saidtubular side bars 56 in any suitable manner, either by welding or otherwise.

In the embodiment shown, said side bars 56 are preff erably arch shaped,one of the strongest mechanical cone structions "knowm'having'the top portions 63' ofsubstan tions 63 to said legs 58.

In the preferred embodiment shown, said cross-bars are also preferably arch shaped and have elongated upper portions 68 and arcua'te portions '70 joining the ends of :said upper portions 68 to their respective legs 64;

The tubular construction of the various bars permits the insertion of round wooden or other types of strengthening dowels therein wherever desired or needed, such as in the breast beam or whip roll where the strain on the warp threads'is greatest. L In the embodiment shown, I have provided the cylindrical wooden dowels72 within the lower ends of the legs '58 of the tubular side barst56 and a rectangular .hard board base '60 is adhered .to said dowels by glueor cement 74 to support said legs 58at each corner thereof. Said legs 58 may also have aligned transverse bearing holes 76 in the front legs and aligned transverse bearing holes 78 'in the rear legs, which bearing holes may extend through the wooden dowels 72 where employed.

With the tubular construction preferably employed by me I may employ a tubular breast beam 8b joining the front legs 58 of said side bars together at the upper ends thereof being suitably welded or otherwise secured to said legs. I also preferably provide a tubular guide roll 82 joining the rear legs of said side bars together at the upper ends thereof.

I also provide the cloth roll shaft 84 having the ends thereof rotatably mounted in said transverse bearing holes 76 in the lower end of the front legs 58 of said side bars 56. Said cloth roll shaft preferably has the'tubular covering 90 mounted thereon intermediate said legs for receiving the cloth thereon.

I also preferably provide a warp beam shaft 92 having the ends thereof mounted in said bearings 78 in the lower ends of the rear legs of said frame side bars.

I preferably provide a suitable take-up mechanism 30 for the cloth roll which, in the embodiment shown, comprises the enlarged ratchet gear 94 mounted on an end of said cloth roll shaft 84 beyond a leg 58. I also pivotally mount a pawl 96 on said frame adapted to engage the teeth in the ratchet gear, and I provide a suitable handle 98 also having a pawl 99 for manually rotating said cloth roll as the cloth is woven thereon. a

I also provide a novel type of friction let-off for use in my improved hand-loom. I provide a hollow warp beam having end flanges 102 interior of said rear legs 58 rotatably mounted on said warp beam shaft 92 and I also rotatably mount annular friction discs 184, each comprising a rigid outer portion 106 preferably metallic and an inner layer providing a friction surface 108 made out of suitable friction material such as rubber impregnated with sand, asbestos, etc., to abut the outer surface of its flange. In the embodiment shown, each outer rigid portion 106 has ears 110 projecting axially outwardly therefrom diametrically thereof straddling its respective rear leg or engaging the frame where the rear legs are not employed. 1

I provide an enlarged stop on one shaft end, such as the bolt head 112 engaging its adjacent leg 58 or abutting the frame where said legs 58 are not employed. I also provide axially movable means 114 mounted on the opposite end of said shaft 92 abutting its friction disc 19-4 to urge it inwardly against its warp beam flange 192 and to urge the entire warp beam 100 against said opposite friction disc 104 on the opposite end. In the preferred embodiment shown, said axially movable means comprises a U-shaped clamp 114 having the U-legs 116 adapted to straddle its leg 58 or to engage the frame where said leg is not employed and having the central hole 118 in the U-base 120 thereof for the end of the warp beam shaft 92 with the U-legs 116 straddling said frame legs 58 where employed and abutting said flange disc 104 in the manner explained. I provide resilient means to normally urge said axially movable means inwardly comprising the coil spring 122 surrounding the end of said shaft 92 with its the base of said U-clamp 114 and axially adjustable means such as a bolt 124 having a head 126 adjustably secured within a hole 128 in the end of said shaft 92 to adjust the tension on said coil spring 122 to vary the tension of the spring abutting the base 118 of the U-clamp to adjustably vary the tension exerted by said clamp. Such construction having a hollow warp beam shaft 100 rotatable on the stationary warp beam shaft 92, with friction members resiliently adjustably abutting each side thereof, is believed novel in hand-looms.

I also provide a feature which I believe is novel in hand-looms, namelypa pivotal reed holding frame 130 for holding the reed 32 (Fig. 12). Said frame 130 comprises the reed holding well 132 extending lengthwise of said loom between said side portions 56 which may be either U-shaped or V-shaped in section, the flat end bars 134 projecting upwardly laterally thereof and the top bar 136 joining the upper ends of said end bars together, said top bar being spaced from said reed well 132 to receive the reed 32 therebetween and I also provide the arcuate reed cap 138 detachably securable over said top bar 136 to lock the reed within the reed frame extending over said top bar 136 and having its edges abutting the sides of the top bar 136 of said reed.

I also provide the spaced straps 140 projecting upwardly from said reed frame having upper end having the transverse holes 142 therein for pivotally mounting on the front cross bar 62. While I preferably employ the reed holding frame 130, it is obvious that if desired its use may be dispensed with and a reed 32 permanently attached to the lower ends of said straps 140. It is apparent that with this construction the reed is always in a position to oscillate in its pivoting movement back and forth from positions in rear of the laid thread to a beat up position beating the laid thread 46 into the edge 48 of the formed cloth 50. It is obvious, however, that the reed may be mounted to horizontally reciprocate in any suitable manner other than in the pivoting manner shown.

As stated, I also provide a set of at least three harnesses each independently vertically reciprocally mounted having heddles mounted thereon for receiving selected warp threads passing from said Warp beam 24 to said cloth roll 28 and a further feature relates to the specific structure of harness employed by me for this purpose. Each harness 36 comprises the tubular upper bar 144, the tubular lower bar 146, the flat end bars 148 joining said upper and lower bars together and the heddle loop end receiving shafts 150 mounted interior of said upper and lower bars 144 and 146. I provide the spaced straps such as the flat wire straps 152 for securing said heddle shafts 150 to the respective heddle bars 144 and 146 and I provide the usual spaced heddles 38 having the central eyes 40 for receiving the individual warp threads vertically mounted on said frame with their end loops 154 mounted on said respective upper and lower heddle loop receiving shafts 150.

It is obvious that with this harness construction that on selective raising of predetermined harnesses dilferent sheds are successively formed for the passage of the shuttle 44 therethrough. In the embodiment shown, I preferably provide the tubular shuttle rest bars 156 transversely joining the upper ends of said front and rear side bar legs 58 together at substantially the height of the lower portion of the shed to initially assist in guiding the shuttle 44 through the shed and to abut the shuttle after it has passed clear through to brake its movement.

In addition, selvedge edge gripping means are provided, such as the upper temple roll 157 projecting inwardly to extend over the fabric and the lower rotatable temple roll 159 having the sharp teeth projecting circumferentially thereof, projecting inwardly below the fabric to force it upwardly against said upper roll.

In the embodiment shown, employing the base 60, I preferably provide the resilient abutments 158 for the sition, but I may, if desired provide the individual coil springs 164 for this purpose, having the lower ends attached to the base 60, and their upper ends attached to each individual harness.

I have already staated that a main feature of my invention comprises a selector mechanism which is preferably manually movable intermittently, which on each partially intermittent rotation raises the desired harnesses to form selected sheds formed by the differently raised harnesses to vary the pattern, one which is preferably provided with the locking mechanism 54 and one which is intermittently manually movable in the reverse direction to release the locking mechanism 54. While the improved selector mechanism about to be described may be mounted on any type of a frame, it is ideally suited and designed to be mounted for operation between the front and rear tubular cross-bars 62 of my improved frame constructed of tubular stock in the manner hitherto explained.

Said selector mechanism comprises a pulley shaft 166 mounted substantially centrally of and between said crossbars, having a pulley 168 independently rotatably mounted thereon immediately above each respective harness 36. I also provide a harness lever shaft 170 also mounted between said front and rear cross-bars 62 at a'spaced distance laterally of said pulley shaft. I provide a harness lever 172, comprising an elongated slightly bent rod for each respective harness 36 having a central hole 174 therein for mounting on said harness lever shaft 170 and strap attaching means such as the eye 176 in the inner end thereof adjacent its respective pulley 168. I provide a flexible strap 175 preferably made of thin leather projecting upwardly from substantially the center portion of each harness over its respective pulley 168 and connected to a respective strap attaching means 176 in its respective harness lever 172 of a length to pull its respective harness lever to a substantially horizontal position when its harness is lowered.

While the selector mechanism 52 may be mounted on the frame in any suitable manner, where the two spaced cross-bars 62 are employed, I preferably employ the tubular posts 178 projecting upwardly from each respective cross-bar at a spaced distance laterally of said harness lever shaft 170, preferably provided with wooden dowels therein and having the bearing holes 180 normal to said cross bars 62. I provide a head cylinder shaft 182 having ends mounted in said bearing holes 180. I provide a head cylinder 183 having a hub 184 mounted on said head cylinder shaft 182 between said posts 178. I provide spoke means 186 in the embodiment shown projecting radially outwardly from said hub 184 and I provide a cylindrical rim 188 mounted on said spoke means and I provide in said rim and hub circumferentially spaced rows 190 and 192 respectively of aligned radial holes therein with one hole in each row for each harness, providing a total number of holes in each row equivalent to the number of harnesses.

I also provide a plurality of combination indicator and harness lever actuating pins 194 selectively insertable in selected holes in each row to designate the harnesses used to make up that particular shed thereby permitting each row of inserted pins 194 on each intermittent revolution of each cylindrical head to abut the outer ends of the respective harness levers to tilt said levers to raise the selected respective harnesses to form the desired shed. I also provide suitable means to secure said pins in position in said holes 190 and 192 and means to intermittently rotate said head cylinder shaft 182 in the embodiment' shown comprising the manually controlled hand wheel 196 for this purpose. On each intermittent partial revolution of said selector cylinder 183, it is obvious that each pin 194 in each row will successively contact the respectiveharness levers for said respective pins, raising the selected harnesses called for by said selected pins and with said pins actually doing the work of raising said harnesses by abutting the respective harness levers 172 for this purpose, a feature I believe novel in devices of this description.

' In any event, I provide suitable means to limit the lifting of said respective harnesses, preferably by limiting the movement of said selector cylinder and preferably locking the same with the harnesses in raised position forming the shed so that both hands may be used, if desired, for manipulating the shuttle 44 through its respective shed. The selector mechanism 183 may be of any suitable shape and includes equivalent mechanism to the selector cylinder shown so long as it is intermittently movable and provided with means for inserting selected pins therein to predetermine the harnesses to be raised and to actually accomplish the work of raising the harnesses on each movement thereof. In place of the hand wheel 196 shown, any suitable type of means manually or otherwise actuated, or even actuated by other parts of the'loom,.may if desired, be employed. While any suitable type of means may be provided for locking the harnesses in raised position for each respective successive shed, I will now'describe the specific means shown in the drawings for this purpose, which covers a simplified lockingvmechanism ideally suited for use with the specific type of selector cylinder employed.

Thus, for this purpose in the embodiment shown, I provide a locking arm 198 having an outer end, also pivotally mounted on said harness lever shaft 172, preferably adjacent the front end thereof, projecting upwardly and then substantially horizontally outwardly or laterally as at 200. I provide a locking plate 202 rigidly mounted on the outer end of said locking arm, preferably on the front portion thereof and having an outer end 204 projecting rearwardly at a pin spaced distance from the outer end of said locking arm for the passage of a pin upwardly therethrough, and a rearwardly projecting upper wall 206 located at a pin spaced distance from the upper edge of the outer end 200 of said locking arm 198, so as to permit the passage of a pin between the upper edge of said locking arm 198 and said top plate upper wall 206 and also providing a right angle corner notch 208 temporarily retaining the pin in locked position therein. I provide the spring means 210, having an end connected to said locking arm 198 and another end connected to a stationary frame portion such as a post 178 for normally urging said locking arm to a lowered position, and I provide the latching pins 212 projecting axially from the rim 188 at evenly spaced distances intermittent said rows of radial holes and 192. With this construction, it is obvious that each successive pin 212 on each intermittent revolution of said head 183 will abut the lower surface of said locking arm 198 and ride upwardly therewith passing along the under surface of the outer end 200 thereof as it is being raised to pass upwardly in the channel between the outer wall 204 of the locking plate and the outer end of said locking arm 198 to the locking notch 208 abutting the top wall 206 of said plate to hold the desired harnesses in a raised position to form the desired shed, while the shuttle 44 is being passed therethrough to lay its respective run of filling thread.

It is also apparent that with this construction on partial opposite intermittent revolution thereof, as shown in Fig. 9, the pin 212 will pass inwardly free of said upper locking arm and as it is raised to move outwardly relative thereto to pass upwardly into the locking notch 208. It is obvious that as this is taking place the respective actuating pins 194 will contact the respective harness levers 172 to raise the selected harnesses 36 for their next successive shed, and that this operation is successively intermittently repeated as successive sheds are made, it being apparent that when the harnesses are raised to form the desired shed they will be positively locked in shed forming position until they are released by the locking mechanism on reverse movement of said selector head.

In the embodiment shown, the means I employ to secure said pins in said cylinder holes 190 and 192 comprises the elastic rubber washer 214 surrounding each pin adjacent the inner surface of its rim hole 190 so that the rubber washers will grip the outer surfaces of said pins and prevent them from falling out.

It is apparent that I have provided a novel type of hand loom with the advantages described above.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A friction let-elf for a hand loom comprising a frame, a warp beam shaft having the ends thereof mounted in said frame, a hollow Warp beam having the end flanges interior of said frame rotatably mounted on said shaft, annular friction discs mounted on said shaft beyond each flange having a friction surface adapted to abut the outer surface of its flange, each having ears projecting diametrically outwardly therefrom engaging the frame, an enlarged stop mounted on one shaft end exterior of said frame, a U-shaped clamp for the opposite end of said shaft, having U legs adapted to engage the frame and having a central hole in the base thereof for clamp, and a bolt having a head abutting the outer end of said coil springsecured to the end of said shaft.

2. A friction let off for a hand loom comprising a frame, a warp beam shaft having the ends thereof mounted in said frame, a hollow warp beam having end flanges interior of said frame rotatably mounted on said shaft, annular friction discs mounted on said shaft beyond each flange having a friction surface adapted to abut the outer surface of its flange each having rotation prevention means projecting therefrom engaging the frame, an enlarged stop mounted on one shaft end exterior of said beam, axially movable means mounted on the opposite end of said shaft abutting said friction disc to urge it inwardly against the other warp beam flange and to urge said Warp beam against said opposite disc, a coil spring surrounding 'said warp beam shaft, having its inner end abutting said axially movable means and axially adjustable means abutting the outer end of said coil spring secured to said shaft.

OTHER REFERENCES Saturday Evening Post, July 12, 1952, pages 36, 37, 125 and 126. 

